Appeal for help from the Prior General after the recent typhoon in the Philippines

My Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Order,

After the double tragedy that has affected a part of the Philippines where the Order has had a strong presence, the Council of the Order unites with the brothers and sisters present there in asking for your solidarity, for your financial help in as much as is possible for you.

1. Because of the recent earthquake various Augustinian churches and our Augustinian presence have been affected. One of those affected was the Sanctuary of the Santo Niño of Cebu, whose bell tower collapsed completely.

2. Besides this, the typhoon of these past recent days has affected the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, where contemplative Augustinian cloistered sisters live in Ormoc City on the island of Leyte. The monastery buildings and the church have been struck by the bad weather and because of the typhoon, the roofs of both of the buildings have been taken off. The entire house has been severely damaged. They are in a time period of heavy rains and there is the risk that even the walls of the monastery will be affected and the damage will be much graver. This is a monastery where the vocations have been abundant and these young sisters are living at this time in the rain and they lack all means of help. It appears that they, like so many other thousands of families, are lacking even the most basic things necessary to survive.

The news of this damage has reached us from Nova Scotia, Canada, thanks to Mother Gloria Camalon, because in Ormoc City and in Mohon City, on the island of Cebu, there are no means of communication because of the lack of electrical power. Also, in Mohon City there has been damage to the monastery, the sanctuary and the school as a result of the earthquake, but not as grave as that suffered by the monastery of Ormoc City because of the typhoon.

WE ASK THAT THOSE WHO WISH TO JOIN WITH US WITH SOME FINANCIAL HELP TO SEND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE CURIA, INDICATING THE DESTINATION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE TREASURER OF THE ORDER.

Account holder:

Curia Generalizia Agostiniana

Bank:

Intesa San Paolo

IBAN:

IT94F0306903206100000003953

BIC:

BCITITMM

Purpose:

Solidarity Fund OSA: Philippines

P. Matthias Hecht

economo@osacuria.org

With our thanks for this expression of solidarity, both through prayers and through material help, we join with you in this sign of our fraternity,